Monday Briefing: Interim Administrator Interviews, Sheriff's Storage Options, Bunnell's Historic Registry

The Bunnell water tower, along with the city's old coquina City Hall, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, an effort led by Bunnell's Randy Jaye. That makes three Bunnell properties on the register. The third is Holden House. (© FlaglerLive) — The Bunnell water tower, along with the city’s old coquina City Hall, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, an effort led by Randy Jaye of Flagler Beach. That makes three Bunnell properties on the register. The third is Holden House. (© FlaglerLive)

Today:: Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers. Highs in the lower 80s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph shifting to the west in the afternoon. Tonight: Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers. Lows in the lower 60s. Details here.
Today’s document from the National Archives and the Astronomy Picture of the Day.
Today’s tides: at the beaches, at the Intracoastal Waterway.
Drought Index: 64
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day: gibbous.
The Live Community Calendar
Today’s jail bookings.

Today’s Briefing: Quick Links

First Light
In Flagler and Palm Coast
Flagler Jail Bookings and Last 24 Hours of Incident Reports
Flagler Beach A1A Construction Updates
US 1-Old Dixie Highway Roundabout Construction Updates
Announcements
In State Government
In Coming Days in Flagler, Palm Coast and Beyond
Fact-Checking the Knaves
Palm Coast Construction and Development
Cultural Coda

“The endurance of nationalism proves that there’s never any shortage of blackguards willing to prop up people’s sense of themselves and their destiny with a tissue of myths and prophecies, prejudices and hatreds, or to empty out old rubbish bags full of festering resentments and calls to violence. When historians abandon the study of the nation, when scholars stop trying to write a common history for a people, nationalism doesn’t die. Instead, it eats liberalism.”

–From Jill Lepore’s “A New Americanism,” in Foreign Affairs, March/April 2019.

Previously:

In Flagler and Palm Coast:

Note: all government meetings noticed below are free and open to the public unless otherwise indicated. Many can be heard or seen live through each agency’s website.

The Sheriff’s daily incident reports and jail bookings are posted here.

Today is Presidents’ Day: No School.

In Court: A new trial is scheduled to start with jury selection at 8:30 a.m. in Courtroom 401 at the Flagler County courthouse in the case of Michael Bowling, the 47-year-old Palm Coast man accused of molesting a 15-year-old girl in a closet during a sleep-over, as the girl was visiting her friend–Bowling’s step-daughter. Bowling also faces accusations of raping his step-daughter. Bowling was tried on just the molestation charges in December. The trial ended in a mistrial. The charges will now be merged and tried together, before Circuit Judge Terence Perkins.

Coffee with a Cop, 9:30 a.m. at the Palm Coast Community Center, 305 Palm Coast Parkway. Coffee with a Cop is a movement designed to help break down the barriers in communities. It brings police officers and the community members they serve together, over coffee, to discuss issues and learn more about each other.

Interim County Administrator Interviews: The Flagler County Commission is spending the day interviewing three candidates for interim county administrator, starting with one-on-one interviews in the morning, which are open to the public, a communal lunch with administrative directors at noon, and the commission interviewing each candidate as a whole in the afternoon. The morning interviews start at 8 a.m. (see the lineup here), the afternoon session at 3 p.m. The candidates are Ted Lakey, the former Jackson County administrator, Jerry Cameron, a consultant and formerly an assistant St. Johns County administrator for a decade, and Michael Esposito, a special projects coordinator in Flagler County government and one of two internal applicants. Glenn Irby, formerly the Apopka city manager, was also shortlisted, but he withdrew.

The Flagler County Commission meets again at 5 p.m. for a regularly scheduled meeting, assuming the commissioners can still stay awake. Commissioners will consider rental fees for the new “cottages” at Princess Place Preserve. Rates would range from $125 to $200 a night. They’ll also consider temporary storage options for the sheriff’s evidence and crime scene processing units, at costs ranging from $219,000 to $260,000. Watch live:

COMMUNITY INPUT SOUGHT ON HEALTH ISSUES: Flagler county residents are being asked to speak up and voice their opinion on a variety of health-related topics through an online survey. The input from the community will be used to create health improvement plans to address community concerns and improve quality of life. The survey is online here countyhealthsurvey.com and is available in English and Spanish. Results of the survey provide the foundation of Community Health Needs Assessments, which are a collection of data used to inform communities and develop goals to improve health outcomes. Once the assessments are complete, they will be used to create three-year Community Health Improvement Plans for both Volusia and Flagler counties. The assessments are being conducted in collaboration with the Florida Department of Health in Flagler and Volusia counties, Flagler Cares, local hospitals and Volusia and Flagler county government. Residents, employers and community partners are encouraged to share this link and ask others to take the survey as well. The survey will close February 28, 2019. Please take the survey here.

Blood Donations: The Big Red Bus will be at the following locations this week (schedule your donation by going to the website and entering a Palm Coast zip code, then locating one of the venues below):

Monday: Halifax Plantation Golf Club, 3400 Club House Drive, Ormond Beach, from 9 a.m. to noon.
Monday: Hammock Beach Resort, 200 Ocean Crest Drive, Palm Coast, from 1 to 4 p.m.
Tuesday: Sea My Home Realty, 4750 East Moody Boulevard, Bunnell, from 1:30 to 5 p.m.
Wednesday: Palm Coast Ford, 1150 Palm Coast Parkway, 9 a.m. to noon.
Wednesday: St. Thomas Episcopal Church Of Flagler County, 5400 Belle Terre Parkway, Palm Coast, 1 to 4 p.m.
Thursday: Metro Diner, 250 Palm Coast Parkway, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday: Walmart, 174 Cypress Point Parkway, Palm Coast, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Jail Bookings and Last 24 Hours' Incidents in Flagler, Palm Coast, Flagler Beach, Bunnell


Jail Bookings, June 19-22 Sheriff's night shift incident reports, June 21 Sheriff's day shift incident reports, June 21 Flagler Beach's night shift incident reports, June 21 Flagler Beach's day shift incident reports, June 21 Bunnell police's night shift incident reports, June 21 Bunnell police's day shift incident reports, June 21
Previous and archived reports

Sources: Flagler County Sheriff's Office, Flagler Beach Police Department, Bunnell Police Department. This is Flagler County's only comprehensive, one-stop compilation of all local law enforcement's daily day and night shift commanders' reports.

Flagler Beach Is Open For Business: A1A Construction Update:

FlaglerLive is providing weekly updates to year-long construction on and near State Road A1A in Flagler Beach as the Florida Department of Transportation rebuilds a 1.5-mile segment from South 9th Street to South 22nd Street, and builds a sea wall at the north end of town. These updates are provided through DOT or local officials. If you have any relevant information or images, you’re welcome to email them to the editor here.

Segment 2 (South 22^nd Street to South 9^th Street) Project Update

Lane and Road Closures:

Residents are advised that several side streets will be closed at S.R. A1A to accommodate removal of barrier wall on Thursday, Feb. 14, from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- The contractor will close all side streets from South 19^th Street to South 13^th Street at S.R. A1A. Traffic will not be able to turn onto or off of S.R. A1A at those side streets.
- Local traffic will be able to access driveways on the side streets between Central Avenue and S.R. A1A.
Single lane closures with flagging operations will continue on this segment. Motorists are asked to use caution and be prepared to stop.

Dune Walkovers:

The project team has announced that reconstruction of the walkovers is tentatively scheduled to begin in fall 2019. This timeframe is based on the current work schedule. Please note the schedule may be affected by weather or unforeseen circumstances. All walkovers impacted by construction will be restored to their pre-construction condition. The project team is taking care to store materials for each walkover separately, and is taking photographs to ensure walkovers are reconstructed to the way they were before work began.

Please note that the walkovers must remain closed during construction for safety reasons. The walkovers had to be removed to accommodate the temporary pavement for the northbound travel lane that will be used during construction. Walkovers remain open to the north and south of the project.

Segment 3 (North 18^th Street to Osprey Drive) Project Update

New Traffic Pattern Starting Friday, Feb. 15:

The contractor will be shifting the travel lanes along S.R. A1A slightly to the west to accommodate work on the buried seawall.
- The new pattern will maintain one lane in each direction along S.R. A1A between North 18^th Street and Osprey Drive.
Single lane closures with flagging operations will be in place on Thursday.

Dune Walkovers:

The contractor will continue to remove dune walkovers as needed to accommodate construction of the buried seawall. The affected dune walkovers include both public and private walkovers between North 18^th Street and Osprey Drive. By contract, all affected dune walkovers will be reconstructed once work is complete to their pre-construction condition. The contractor is carefully removing and storing separately the existing materials for each walkover. Photographs also are being taken to document existing conditions and will be used to assist with reconstruction.

Please note that the walkovers must remain closed during construction for safety reasons.

The contractor has 300 days to complete the work.

See Also:

The proposed roundabout at the intersection of Old Dixie Highway and U.S. 1 is intended to drastically reduce the number of severe crashes at one of the county's most dangerous intersections. Two other such roundabouts are proposed for other dangerous intersections in Flagler. Click on the image for larger view. (DOT) — The proposed roundabout at the intersection of Old Dixie Highway and U.S. 1 is intended to drastically reduce the number of severe crashes at one of the county’s most dangerous intersections. Two other such roundabouts are proposed for other dangerous intersections in Flagler. Click on the image for larger view.
(DOT)

U.S. 1 and Old Dixie Highway Roundabout Construction Updates:

FlaglerLive is providing weekly updates to the planned 15-month, $4.1 million construction of a roundabout at U.S. 1 and Old Dixie Highway. The project started in late January and is scheduled for completion by spring 2020.

This week southbound U.S. 1 will be reduced to one lane and be shifted slightly west onto new pavement. Southbound U.S. 1 traffic heading to Old Dixie Highway will be directed to stay on southbound U.S. 1 and make a U-turn to return to Old Dixie Highway using northbound U.S. 1. Old Dixie Highway drivers heading to southbound U.S. 1 will have to turn onto northbound U.S. 1 and make a U-turn to access southbound U.S. 1. Later this week, northbound U.S. 1 will be reduced to one lane and shifted west onto the existing southbound side of the roadway. Once this shift is made, U.S. 1 will have one lane in each direction through the project area. The speed limit will be reduced along U.S. 1 through the construction zone, and drivers are asked to be alert and use caution when traveling through the work area.

More details here.

See Also:

Announcements:

Flagler Beach Citizens Academy: Eight consecutive Wednesdays beginning on March 6, 2019, running through April 24, 2019, from 2 to 5 p.m. Learn all there is to know about the history of your city, how your government works and is financed, and the responsibilities of staff and elected officials. Tour your city’s recreational, first responder, library, and public works facilities. Discover plans for the city’s future and opportunities for resident involvement. These sessions are open to anyone residing within the City of Flagler Beach. There will be a limit of 20 participants. Registration applications are available at City Hall, Building Department, Library, Police Department, Fire Department and on our City’s website (www.cityofflaglerbeach.com). All applications must be received by February 22, 2019. Jane Mealy, Commissioner City of Flagler Beach PO Box 70 Flagler Beach, FL 32136 You will then receive a detailed schedule of the sessions and where each will be held. If you have any questions, contact Jane Mealy at: 439-4811 [email protected].

In Florida and in State Government:

Note: Some proceedings below can be followed live on the Florida Channel. Most legislative proceedings can be followed through the Senate or House websites.

RULES COMMITTEE MEETS: The House Rules Committee will meet and consider a series of what are known as “reviser’s” bills. (Monday, 5 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

DEMOCRATS DISCUSS PROTECTING VENEZUELANS: U.S. Rep. Donna Shalala, D-Fla., U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., and U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, D-Fla., will hold a media conference call to discuss efforts to protect Venezuelans in the United States. (Monday, 9 a.m., media may contact the Florida Democratic Party for call information.)

WASSERMAN SHULTZ RIPS EMERGENCY DECLARATION: U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., will hold a media briefing to criticize President Donald Trump’s decision to declare a national emergency to build a border wall. (Monday, 10 a.m., Wasserman Schultz office, City of Sunrise Utilities Administration Building, 777 Sawgrass Corporate Parkway, Sunrise.)

—-Compiled by the News Service of Florida and FlaglerLive

In Coming Days in Palm Coast, Flagler and the Occasional Beyond:

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A Twitter List by PierreTristam

Keep Up with Donald Trump’s attacks on the press through the ACLU’s running tab here.

Keep Up with mass shootings in a running database here.

Palm Coast Construction and Development Progress Reports

Here’s a summary of the latest city developments as of Feb. 15, 2019, with a link to the full week in review here.

Click to access week-in-review-feb-15-2019-developments.pdf

Cultural Coda

J.S. Bach: Trio Sonata in E-Flat Major, BWV 525, Doug Marshall, Organ